Wheel for turbines.



No. 841,255. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

H; KELLER.

WHEEL FOR TURBINES. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 31, 1905.

Zion sses I 1d twfrlwltcir M 'lu rem r e e .94 B

- UNITED STATES PATENT A OFFICE.

HULDREICH KELLER. OF BERLIN, GERMANY. Assienoa TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION on NEW YORK.

WHEEL FOR TURBINES.

To all whom it may concern: 4

Be it known that I, HULDREIGH KELLER, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Berlin, Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels for El'astic-Fluid Turbines, ofwhich the following is. a specification. I

The present invention has for its object to improve the constructionof turbinebucketwheels and other bodies intended to rotate at hi hspeeds.

n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an axial section of a bucket-wheel having a narrow face or rim. Fig. 2 is a'similar section of a bucket-wheel having a wide face. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same wheel, showing in a somewhat exaggerated manner the distortions which occur due to centrifugal force; and Fig. 4 illustrates one embodiment of my inventionas ap lied to a bucketwheel or other rotating b0 y.

' A free ring rotating at high speed around its own axis is subjected to very heavy centrifugal strains. If, for example, such a ring is madeof metal having a s ecific Weight of eight kilograms per cubied ecimeter with'a peripheral velocity in s ace of thirty, fifty, seventy, or one hundrer meters per second, the strain due to centrifugal force will be seventy, two hundred, four hundred, or eight hundred kilograms per square centimeter.

The strain is materiallv increased when additional weight is added to the ringsuch,

for example, as the buckets for transformin ;the energy of a motive fluid into mechanica 5 power.

If the rim of the wheel has a narrow face, as in Fig. 1, it su'liices to support it by means of a solid web which gradually increases in thickness from the rim to the hub or to the shaft. Such wheels can be proportioned -with a considerable degree of accuracy to' withstand the centrifugal strains. If, however, the face of the wheel-rim is very wide, as in Fig. 2, only those parts which are approximatel midway between the sides of i the rim wil exert a noticeable tension on the .Web 1 when in motion. Those lying on opposite sides of the plane of the web will have an effect approximately the same as that of a free ring of equal diameter. The rim will then assume the general form shown in Fig. 3that is to say, the arts 2 and 3 will expand, and the rim of t e wheel will be sub- Specification cf Lettersv Patent.

Application filed July 31, 1905. Serial No. 272.018-

. trifu al force of their own masses.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

' jected to such strains as will cause it to assume a more or less curved form, the diameter raduall increasin in both directions from the plane of the web. This means that the buckets mounted on the wheel will be distorted from theirnormal positions, thus requiring a clearance greatcr than normal between the relatively movable buckets. This dillicnlty could be overcome by dividing the wheel into a number ofv units, each constructed after the manner shown in Fig.

l but this is objectionable because it greatly increases the weight and makes the whole construct on very expensive on account of the extra devices required to fasten the same to the shaft and also on account-of the increased cost of manufacture.

B means of the present invention a relative y light and strong construction is provided requiring only one hub on the shaft.

Furthermore, it involves only a minimum amount ofmachine-work.

The rim4 is attached to a spider comprising a solid web 5 of suitable construction that gradually increases in thickness toward the hub or shaft. In orderto strengthen the edge ofthe rim and prevent too-great tangential strains thereon, rings 6 and 7 are provided which are cast with the wheel and are connected to the rim by webs 8 and 9.. The rings 6-and 7 are considerably smaller indi ameter than the wheel-rim and are only af- I fected to a relatively small extent by the cen- Such beingt e case, they are ableto take art of the centrifugal strains to which thee ges of the wheel-rim are subjected through the medium. of the webs 8 and 9. These rings are subjected only to tension strains.

The spider has only one hub and can thus be worked'on from both sides, so that it canbe easily machined and adjusted on the shaft.

Where it is desired to make a Wheel with a materially wider peripheral face, two hubs may be employed and in addition two or more strengthening-rings arranged as described.

Secured to the peripheryof the wheel are rows of buckets 10 for transformin the en,- ergy of the steam or other elastic uid into rotary motion. As many ofthese rows may be provided as are necessary.

The invention is not to be understood as patent being limitedto the construction of turbine" bucket-wheels,

' with the apparatus which Inow consider to 9 j I desire represent the best'embodime'nt thereof; but to have it understood that the appa-' rams-shownis only illustrative and that the inventioncan be carried out by other means.-

What I claim'as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 1. An element inten"ed to be rotated at: high surface speed, comprising a spider Y adaptedt'o be mounted on' a shaft, a rim se;

curedthereto, and ringsuwhich revolve at a materially lower surface speed than the rim, the said rings being connected to the rim and. arranged'to'stren then and -su port it.

2. An'element intended to high surface speed', comprising aspider adapted to be mounted onthe shaft, a rim a ring situated atone side secured thereto, the spider and having. ar'naterially less 'surface speed than the rim, and'meansj connecting vthe ring with the rim whereby the cene rotated at trifugal strains on the are partially trans? o ferred tothering';

-. element intended to be rotatedat high surfacev speed --comprising a spider adapted tobe mounted on a. shaft, arim sezcu'red thereto,'rings"which revolve at almat'erially lower surface speedthan the rim, the

saidirin s being connectedtofthe rim and' arrange to strengthen, and supportit, and

buckets carried by the rim forcausing rotary motion. 7 p

'4. A bucket-Wheel: inte'nded'tLo-be rotated at high surface speed, comprising a spider adapted to be mounted-on a shaft, a rinise: v

cured thereto, rings "situated on opposite. sides of the spider and having a material less surface speed than the rim, webs connectingfthe rings and the rim whereby the strains to which the rim is subjected are partially sustained by therings, and rows of buckets mounted on the rim for causing rotation.

a In W tness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of'July, 1905. p

' HULDREICHKELLER. Witnesses:

RICHARD 'KRA'UP, FR. WAGNER. 1 -i 

